FSHP Academy
Cricket S&C — all lessons

Biomechanics of Cricket

Analysis of bowling, batting and fielding movements

Assessment & Evaluation

Assessment protocols for cricketers: strength, power, speed, agility, endurance

Long-Term Periodisation

LTAD in cricketPeriodisation for seasons and formatsManaging training and bowling load

Strength, Power, Speed & Agility

Exercise selection and integrating strength training in cricketExplosive power and plyometrics for cricketSpeed between the wickets and fielding agility

Overtraining, Recovery & Practice

Overtraining signs, load and fatigue monitoring in cricketCricket S&C case studies and practical sessions

Managing training and bowling load

Monitoring and managing load in cricket — bowling workload counts, spikes in acute load, too little bowling, and integrating with total training load.

Advanced Evidence: Strong evidence 3 min read Reviewed 2026-10-31 Status: draft

Learning objectives

  • Quantify bowling workload
  • Explain relationships between workload and injury
  • Plan progressive bowling workloads
  • Integrate bowling with other training load

Before this lesson

Why this matters

Fast bowlers have high injury rates; workload management is a key prevention tool.

Measuring load

  • Deliveries per session/week (matches + nets)
  • Bowling sessions per week
  • Intensity (match vs net)
  • Session-RPE × minutes for all training [foster2001]

Evidence

  • Both very high and very low bowling workloads were associated with higher injury risk [dennis2003].
  • Spikes in acute workload relative to chronic workload increased injury risk [hulin2014].
  • Ratio-based models have conceptual limits — use with context [impellizzeri2020].

Practical model

Build bowling volume over 6–10 weeks pre-season; avoid sudden jumps (e.g., after selection); keep some bowling during breaks; record everything in one tracker.

Common mistakes and misconceptions

Case study

A fast bowler returns from a 4-week break straight into a Test. He develops side strain. The next season, the team keeps maintenance bowling during breaks and builds deliveries over 3 weeks before matches.

Further learning: video lessons

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Technical needs verification — opens a YouTube search

Managing training and bowling load

cricket S&C coaches and national boards (search)

You will understand: managing training and bowling load

Why: Practitioner content; verify the specific video.
Technical needs verification — opens a YouTube search

Strength and conditioning in practice

cricket S&C coaches and national boards (search)

You will understand: applied S&C sessions

Why: Practitioner content; verify the specific video.

Knowledge check

Knowledge check · 0/5

1. Dennis et al. (2003) found fast-bowler injury risk was related to…

Answer B. U-shaped relationship.

2. Hulin et al. (2014) found injury risk increased with…

Answer B. Spikes.

3. Bowling workload should include…

Answer B. Total deliveries.

4. A gradual return to bowling after a break involves…

Answer B. Progression.

5. Load ratios should be used…

Answer B. Impellizzeri et al. (2020).

Short-answer & application questions

  1. Build a bowling workload tracker.
  2. Plan a 6-week return-to-bowling programme.
  3. Explain workload spikes to a captain.

Key takeaways

  • Count deliveries (including nets) and sessions per week.
  • Both too much and too little bowling have been associated with injury risk.
  • Spikes in acute workload relative to chronic workload increase injury risk.
  • Combine bowling counts with session-RPE and wellness.

Connected topics

cricket

Overtraining signs, load and fatigue monitoring in cricket

sports technology

Interpreting speed, load, fatigue and HRV data

References

  1. Dennis R, Farhart P, Goumas C, Orchard J (2003). Bowling workload and the risk of injury in elite cricket fast bowlers. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 6(3):359–367. Cohort check pending
  2. Hulin BT, Gabbett TJ, Blanch P, et al. (2014). Spikes in acute workload are associated with increased injury risk in elite cricket fast bowlers. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(8):708–712. Cohort check pending
  3. Impellizzeri FM, Tenan MS, Kempton T, Novak A, Coutts AJ (2020). Acute:chronic workload ratio: conceptual issues and fundamental pitfalls. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 15(6):907–913. Narrative review check pending
  4. Foster C, Florhaug JA, Franklin J, et al. (2001). A new approach to monitoring exercise training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 15(1):109–115. Classic study check pending

Educational content only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis or treatment.